Chapter 64 - Negotiation Fails

"Look...we can negotiate and come to a middle ground," Santiago said to Covrado. Although Covrado was carrying the gun, it couldn't be denied that he was equally frightening and foolish. But it was this foolishness of his which was making him a very dangerous enemy currently. He could shoot all three of them and get away with consequence because he had the privilege of being called 'dumb.'

Covrado sneered. As a petty and narrow-minded man, how could he let this woman, who made a fool out of him, get away just like that? 

He was the boss's son. No one ever dared to talk back to him, much less make fun of him. But today because of this woman, he was mocked by the mere foot soldiers and not to mention that smug and lazy Matteo. 

Starting now, he would kill this woman along with her lover and their accomplice to avenge his mocked honor. Yes, they had stained his honor. 

"Even if you all beg me, I won't spare you," Covrado hissed. "You made a fool out of me and expect me to forgive you? One just doesn't step on a tiger's tail and get away with it. He has to bear the consequences. You have awakened a sleeping dragon and now this deadly dragon will burn you with the fire of his wrath." 

Persephone sighed as she looked up to see Covrado once again,"Mr. Avocado *Cough* Covrado, if you're the dragon then who is the tiger?"

She asked the question in such a serious manner as if this particular question was going to make her score full marks in the boards. Even Avocado *Cough* Covrado was left speechless. 

Emanuel closed his eyes in despair. He just realized one thing: Miss Persephone doesn't value her life. 

"You are deliberately fiddling with me," Covrado rightly accused her. 

She indeed was… but what are you gonna do? Can you stop her? 

"Why would I?" Persephone gasped. "It was a genuine concern."

"I'm telling you not to argue with me or...," Covardo threatened her, pointing the gun at her head. 

"Or what?" Persephone instigated him. "Or you gonna tell your mommy that some adults bullied green green little avocado?"

Covardo was fed up with bullshit. This woman was clearly provoking him. Now, he was gonna shoot her to stop her from irritating him. But as soon as he placed his finger on the trigger, someone threw soil on his face. Few particles of soil entered his eyes, making the revolver drop from his hand. But as he could pick it up again, Persephone had the same revolver pointed at his head. 

"Little Avocado, who's the tiger or dragon now?" Persephone asked him with a grin. As she twirled the revolver in her hand in a fancy manner, something passed on her brain which was missed by all the three men standing near her. 

Nevertheless, she didn't drop the facade of being a mafia queen right now. 

Woah, she was going to experiment being a Dona on the first human being. 

Now, now, it was Covrado's turn to tremble. 

"Y-you...do you even know who I am?" Covardo wasn't going to stop throwing his name. He was one of those people who loved to show the weight of these words ; do you know who my father is?

"Just a dumbo who thinks wearing glaring yellow and bloody red is going to make you a new fashion expert," came the swift reply. But it wasn't Persephone who replied, rather it was Emanuel. 

Emanuel walked to him proudly and fearlessly. He smirked while looking at Covardo's made face which was now melting (Apparently, the thick foundation on his face melted due to sweating.) 

Rolling his shirt sleeves, he added,"Miss Persephone, shoot the clown between his legs first." 

Persephone hesitated a bit but under Emanuel's smug face and Covrado's weeping face, she made a disgusted expression,"Eww, kiddo. I didn't know you were into these things." 

"Miss Persephone, you are thinking too much. I just wanted you to shoot this dragon's little tail. Even I wanna see how much fire he has," Emanuel said. 

Her gaze fell on Santiago's silent figure. She noticed that his arm was still bleeding. Nodding to herself, she said,"Emanuel and Villain, collect all the things. We will leave." 

When Emanuel was collecting the necessary things they would need later, Santiago ordered Persephone to shoot Covrado or let him shoot him. 

Seeing that she was hesitating, Santiago said,"Shoot him, Red, or he will emerge as a formidable enemy later."

Yet, she wasn't shooting him. 

"Villain, let's run first, "Persephone again said. 

"Persephone, kill him or let me kill him."This time Santiago's voice was firm and hard. There was no way he was going to let him live. 

Emanuel who was standing right beside them nodded his head in agreement. " Yes, he had to die. Miss Persephone, you are too kind to spare this phony dragon's life." 

Santiago had an urge to add that she wasn't as kind as he was thinking but stopped himself as it was neither the right place nor time. 

"Yes, please spare my life," Covardo begged. Even the high and mighty boss's son was ready to bed for his life. 

Snatching the gun from Persephone's hand , Santiago pulled the trigger. 

"Emanuel!!! Runn!!!" Persephone shouted as soon as Villain realized what just happened. 

Ladies and gentlemen, the revolver was empty. Apparently, little avocado had fired all the bullets while showing his superiority. He was a bad shooter and had almost no knowledge about weapons. But Persephone, who was brought up by Marino Family, who eats and shit weaponry knew just by the weight of the revolver that it was empty. 

Later, Santiago wasn't in his complete senses when he pulled the trigger. It was only when he fired the empty revolver...he realized that the stupid and crazy woman had been bluffing to buy them some time. 

Persephone and Emanuel ran towards the exit of the forest. 

But just as they were a few meters away, they heard a gunshot. 

However, what was most surprising about it? 

It wasn't Covrado who was shot, rather Santiago by him… 

Persephone and Emanuel froze when they saw Santiago falling on the ground, clutching his bleeding abdomen. 

____

On Killian's side. 

"Mr. K, we have a shocking new," Santiago's assistant who was now working under Killian said, breaking the door. Pointing his finger at the iPad clutched in his left hand, he shoved the iPad before his eyes. "PM Joseph was found dead in the Prime Minister's residence a few hours ago. The whole country is currently under heavy curfew. All kinds of phone and internet services have been cut off by the government. We traced Boss's location a few hours ago...but now all the traces are suddenly gone."

Killian, who had passed out in his office last night, was still in the same clothes and the bottle of expensive alcohol was lying on the ground. 

A few hours ago, he had too much hangover to stand, but just after hearing the news, his eyes were sharp and brain was sprinting at a fast speed. 

"Send a rescue team immediately," Killian shouted. 

"But boss has ordered…" the assistant was about to say something but was cut off by Killian's glare. 

"What would you do with his orders if he is dead?"Killian shouted again. Lately, he had been losing his temper a lot. 

"Yes, sir."

"You better be alive, Santiago or I am going to torture that bastard's daughter till her very last breath." 

It wasn't just his words but a vow. 

____

On His Majesty's side. 

PM Joseph's wife had died a few years ago, leaving behind a twenty five years old son. Currently, King Leonardo was negotiating with the Joseph family confidentially. Joseph's corpse was found by his son, Ronan who had come back from Italy to visit his father as the latter had some news to share with him. 

There were rumors stating that Ronan and his father did not share a harmonious relationship. But both father and son were famous for their amiable relationship before the camera, contrary to the rumors. Then again, they were just rumors as they had no credibility to them. 

"Mr. Joseph, we know that you just lost your father and currently, you are not in a state of mind to take any decision," The King's advisor who also acts as his assistant for all the political matters began speaking." But you must contain the deteriorating situation outside. The public is in panic. Some elements are taking advantage of the unstable political situation." 

The King was sitting on his chair in his study along with Ronan Joseph and the advisor-slash-assistant. 

"With all due respect, Your Majesty, what you are asking is too much," Ronan Joseph said. He looked too calm for the person whose father was just murdered a few hours ago. 

King Leonardo had to admit that this young man was impressive. Not only did he not let the party take advantage of his father's death nor did he blame the crown. 

However, he had to admit it too that this young man was more scary and threatening to his position than his dead ambitious father.